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Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
#14039
05/02/2011 03:26 PM
05/02/2011 03:26 PM
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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We're thinking about doing a 14 day Italy tour with Trafalger Tours. We've never traveled this way, we usually book ourselves and rent a car. It appears to be fairly leisurely, with a couple of days in each spot, not just pack and go. Any opinions or thoughts would be appreciated. thanks Carol
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Re: Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
#14040
05/02/2011 06:45 PM
05/02/2011 06:45 PM
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Anonymous
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Grand European Tours Recommend these folks - have used them for Italy, ireland and the USA, very satisfied with their service. Have heard of Trafalger - around for many years Suggest you compare them for the best deals.
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Re: Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
#14041
05/02/2011 07:49 PM
05/02/2011 07:49 PM
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I think Insight Tours are much BETTER. Try Globus if not. We did Globus and we would not do it again due to the hotels. Out of the way---could not get into town easy AT NIGHT which revented us and the class of hotels. Not GREAT.
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Re: Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
[Re: contessa]
#14043
05/03/2011 02:03 PM
05/03/2011 02:03 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 520 Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Temery
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 520
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
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I took a Trafalgar tour of Italy and Sicily back in 2006 and loved every minute of it however I would NOT call it leisurely at all - in fact of the 14 days there were only 2 of them where I spent a few hrs on a beach or near a pool "relaxing", at all other times it was go go go. I'm not telling you this to discourage you at all, there are deff bonuses to tour traveling but if you're looking for leisurely then coach touring will disapoint you. Have you visited the message boards at Trafalgar yet? (I do every day) I highly recommend you do visit (Globus and Insight also have message boards). Just so you know your average day will be up between 6:30 and 7:00 am (if it's a travel day then bags out in the hallway usually by 7:00 am) breakfast is served btw 7:00 and 8:00 then on the bus bt 8:00 and 8:30 am and on to your next destination, comfort stop every 2 hrs (use toilet, grab a snack or lunch), may be a city tour stop on the way, arrive at the next hotel bt 3:00 ish to 6:00 ish pm, check in, go on an optional that may or may not include dinner or dinner at the hotel then off to sleep and repeat the next day. On a non travel day then no bags out but still up early to go on a city/church/monument tour. Now you can always skip optionals then you have a bit more time to hang out and relax but then your missing something...I use the same screen name at the other message board so feel free to ask me any questions here or there.
Personally I LOVE coach touring but my DH has figured out he HATES them so....
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Re: Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
[Re: menton1]
#14048
08/02/2011 02:40 PM
08/02/2011 02:40 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 520 Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Temery
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 520
Huntington Beach, CA, USA
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actually that's exactly what you get on a coach tour - a feel for the country. Yes independent is cheaper and you can sleep in BUT you don't do or see as much (and IMO I can sleep when I'm dead or here at work). Just for an example if you want to go into the Vatican - well as an independent you get to line up outside and then WAIT until AFTER all of the tour groups have gone in (with our guide and wisper system included in our entry price) and that's just the Vatican... I can go on and on with examples. If you don't really want to see very much, sleep in late, party at bars in the evening then Coach touring is not for you (there is 1 tour company that actually caters to this type of touring but you have to be under 35 yrs old to go), if you want to pack as much sightseeing into 14 days as possible, not worry about driving/parking/hotel reservations/language barriers then Coach touring is for you.
Last edited by Temery; 08/02/2011 02:40 PM.
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Re: Italy, via Trafalgar Tours...anyone?
[Re: Temery]
#14049
08/08/2011 12:40 AM
08/08/2011 12:40 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,485 New Jersey
menton1
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,485
New Jersey
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With the internet and the wealth of information available, we get to our destination airport, rent a car, and off we go at our own pace. We mingle with Italians, talk to Italians, linger at caffes, and get a feel for what they do. Just the time getting on and off buses with tours can add up to hours in a day! And all you know is the tourist group you are with, and the places the tour company made a deal with. NOT.
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